From Graduate to Professional Translator: The Story of Marijana Delišimunović

I came to Ciklopea shortly after I had completed my English studies, on recommendation of the English department head. I started off as a student without much experience in translating. I saw the job at Ciklopea as a chance to do the job I was educated for and always wanted to do. That was the chance I just could not miss, especially when one thinks that most of my peers could not say the same in this day and age. All in all, the only thing I had with me was whatever I had learned at the university and it was high time I had begun using it in the real life.

At first, I was assigned to localization projects, as they represent the easiest way of introduction to work in CAT tools. The material itself was usually not too difficult in terms of the content as far as the translators-newcomers are concerned, so it was a perfect way of learning how to use tools such as Trados.

Honestly speaking, at first I felt as if I had been thrown to swim in the waters that I should know – theoretically – but the real story was quite a different one. Fortunately, there were experienced fellow translators around who were always there to advise and help us, the newcomers. They were glad to share their experience, knowledge and tricks with us “novices” and all we had to do was listen and learn.

Of course, with all the positive ones, I also encountered the negative sides of the translation business, ranging from the sometimes tight schedules and (to us translators) unclear clients’ requests to the truly complex translation issues. However, all of this is a challenge, and when I think about that, I actually love challenges, no matter how perplexing certain situations may seem.

Over time, I myself have become a supervisor whose task is to share the knowledge with the “younger generations” and that is an additional challenge as it includes constant learning and perfecting the work in the CAT tools that we use daily.

In the meantime, I also completed my German studies, and employment at Ciklopea followed. I have recently become a court interpreter, thus rounding my translation experience up to this point. In addition to learning about the pros and cons of this job (there are no jobs without cons), I also have the pleasure to work with colleagues with whom I share perfect understanding and our discussions and group problem solving are pure joy. Over this period of over two years now, I have learned a lot, I am maturing professionally and I believe that I am advancing and perfecting every day, which is, after all is said and done, the most important thing.

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